US army special forces veteran Michael Taylor was sentenced to two years and his son Peter for one year and eight months

A Tokyo court has handed down the first sentences related to Carlos Ghosn’s arrest and escape from Japan, imprisoning US army special forces veteran Michael Taylor for two years and his son Peter for one year and eight months for helping the former Nissan chairman flee to Lebanon.

“This case enabled Ghosn, a defendant of serious crime, to escape overseas,” Hideo Nirei, the chief judge, said while explaining the judgment. “One year and a half has passed, but there is no prospect of the trial being held.”

Related: Carlos Ghosn ordered to repay £4.3m to Nissan and Mitsubishi